Mini Magnetic Balls: A Dangerous Attraction

Sold exclusively at amazon.com, Magnet Balls Manipulative Magnet Sets have been recalled. Original and Rainbow Bright interactive magnet sets were sold in a cylindrical silver tin. Each puzzle set contains 216 spherical high-powered magnets that are 5mm in diameter. The magnets were sold in silver and multi-color sets. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled magnets.

Nanospheres Magnetic Desk Toys are similar, and have also been recalled. The products were sold for use as an adult novelty item or desk toy with warnings of hazards relating to the dangers specific to small magnets.  Nanospheres is a mass of 231 small powerful magnets that are either silver, gold or black in color. As with other recalled magnetized toys and novelties, consumers should immediately stop using the product.

The hazards associated with small magnets are well known to the toy and children’s product industries. When two or more magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside a child’s intestines and clamp onto body tissues, with the potential to cause intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death. Internal injuries due to ingestion of small, high-powered magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received at least 80 reports of incidents involving ingestion of other high powered magnets, resulting in 79 individuals seeking medical intervention. In recent years, there have been other recalls of toys that incorporate such magnets due to the significant risk of injuries.
If you or a family member have suffered significant personal injuries  as the result of a defective product, contact the law office of Swartz & Swartz, P.C. Call (617) 742-1900 in the Boston area, or for clients in greater Massachusetts, New England, or other states across the U.S., call toll-free at 1-800-545-3732.